NGUPLUS: Fundamental Ubuntu Server Installation for The Proxy Server

Monday, February 20, 2017

Fundamental Ubuntu Server Installation for The Proxy Server

It is unquestionable that the Linux as the operating system of computer as the advantages in handling the network system. The stability of performance is what the strengths of the linux in building the network server. Here I have proved myself after building the proxy server using linux in ubuntu server version. Ideally the server should be built on the server-based as the operating system. Indeed, if we build any server using any desktop operating system will obviously have less stable performance because desktop operating system doesnt all support to the server.

On this occasion I would like to share again to the users of agratitudesign the knowledge and experiences of the problems that Ive found in accordance with the conditions. After this agratitudesign will be widely supported by wiswaweb.com to continue in making the tutorials as the notes of knowledge exploration and as a reminder for us, that may be useful to solve and give an inspiration to your problem as well.

In order to build such a proxy server, in this case I will use ubuntu server as the operating system that may has already explained by another, here I will explain based on my experience and experiment. I was using ubuntu server with version 14:04 32 bit. Perhaps among of you, there is still doubt in installing ubuntu server as the operating system, Ill show it for you.

First you have to download the version of ubuntu server still as the open souce software from releases ubuntu, then you burn it into the cd as ubuntu server installer, just like the windows installer cd. In the process of installation, ubuntu will made the partitions on hard drive as the linux partitions. So dont you be surprised if you are trying to see the ubuntu partitions on Windows operating system can not be read at all, because it is different that the windows made partitions as FAT and NTFS system.

Ok lets start your computer and insert the cd of ubuntu server to your cdrom drive, make sure the first boot is from cdrom drive of your computer, if everything is alright and the process of installation ubuntu server is about to begin. The installation process for more complete and clear, you can on this video!

In the video, there are several points in the process of installing ubuntu server that I need to explain to you.

Use a static IP address of ubuntu server same as the client on your network

Before we make to be a real proxy server, there are some updates or upgrades that need the internet access from your gateway. It would be difficult for us to use direct access using a modem, the best choice for use the internet from lan. In order to make ubuntu server can be access from the client, it will be need openssh-sever and openssh-client to be installed through internet.

Suppose the installation process you are connected to the network 192.168.1.0/24, if you use any router with dhcp server on your network, during installation it will be given dynamic ip address automatically. But we need a static IP address to remote or access from other computers that are connected in the network. Therefore you must choose manual configuration network setup from the installation steps below.!

Username and Password configuration on Ubuntu server

It must be remember, because it will be used every time you run the Ubuntu server and for some security reasons the server itself. Especially if you use have private IP public from Internet Provider to your local network, it is not safe if you do not give your password on ubuntu server.

Partitions hard drive in Ubuntu server

The hard drive Partitions in Ubuntu server is using linux partitions system, its different to the partition that you do like when youre installing windows which typically uses the FAT, FAT32 or NTFS system. Linux system partition can not be read on a Windows operating system. So in the process of installing Ubuntu server is done using one hard drive that will be divided into several kind partitions. So it is impossible to separate one partition for ubuntu and another partition for Windows in one hard drive, unless you are using a virtual mechine.

For the plan in building a proxy server using squid lusca head, we will divide the hard drive into some kind of partitions. This aims to get the proxy server to work optimally, the proxy caches is placed in some partitions so that we can get the proxy hit can impact significantly and more stable. This pictures will discribe you how to divide your hard drive into some partitions using partition method is done manually as shown below!

Distribution of the kind partitions on hard drive must be considering the total capacity of the hard drive and memory (RAM) of your computer. As another reference should see directly from ubuntuserverguide in distributing partition hard drive of the proxy server. In practice sometimes the swap partition can not be 2x RAM, so please you can try too, if there is a problem dont use swap partition exceed the capacity of the RAM. I guess it depends also on the ability of the processor and mainboard of your computer that you want to be a proxy server.

After the installation process is complete, the computer need to reboot and your Ubuntu server ready to use. In order to access ubuntu server from another clients on your network, ubuntu server and clients must be in the same network and need the application to open the ssh port of client-server so that you can be easily to remote ubuntu system configuration through windows operating system for you who are still unfamiliar with the command lines Ubuntu server that based on linux system.

At least you have to know the basics of linux ubuntu command lines. For the first time Ubuntu server is running, you must enter the username and password that you setup in the process installation. You will be usually find

yourname@ubuntu-proxy:~$ : it means you have entered as your username

root@ubuntu-proxy:~# : it means you have entered as root

some command lines in configuring the ubuntu server can not be done just using your username, in this case you need to log in as root, root = administrator in windows system. In order to enter as root there are some ways.

If you have entered to be your username (yourname@ubuntu-proxy:~$), setup the root password firstly

sudo su
type your password
passwd
type a new password that will be root password
password root confirmation
you have come to be root

to enter directly as the root, when the system firstly running or when you have log out

Type root
password root
you have come to be root

when you came as your username and want to be root

sudo -i
type your root password
you have come to be root

For example if you want to install openssh-server openssh-client, if you come as your username (yourname@ubuntu-proxy:~$) you must fill the following command line and it will need a password to be executed:

sudo apt-get install openssh-server openssh-client

Sudo is command on behalf as root, if you have entered to be root (root@ubuntu-proxy:~#) the command line will not require sudo and no need the password :

apt-get install openssh-server openssh-client

this command line will be install openssh-server and openssh-client application using internet connection, this application will be open the ssh port by default is 22 as the port communication.

If you want to cancel any command lines you can do by pressing Ctrl+C

And this for restart, shutdown and else to ubuntu server

shutdown -h now
shutdown -h 0
shutdown -h 18:45 "Server is going down for maintenance"
halt poweroff
reboot
shutdown -r 0

nano /etc/network/interfaces : opening terminal editor for network configurations

That will be the basic command lines that usually need, must be understand at least before you explore more command lines on linux ubuntu system.

For some reasons in configuration of the ubuntu server you to access by remotely through client that using windows operating system, you can using some remote application such as putty or winscp.

Available link for download